Remembrance Day

June 4, 1949 – June 4, 2021

Open Statements to the Government of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam

On September 20, 1977, the 32nd General Assembly approved the admission of Vietnam to the United Nations. As a member state, Vietnam has signed seven out of nine treaties with the United Nations to guarantee that the fundamental rights as enshrined in those treaties are respected:

1. CCPR – International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ratified 1982)
2. CESCR – International Covenant on Economic Social and Cultural Rights (ratified 1982)
3. CEDAW – Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (ratified 1982)
4. CERD – International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (ratified 1982)
5. CRC – Convention on the Rights of the Child (ratified 1990)
6. CRPD – Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (ratified 2015)
7. CAT – Convention against Torture and Other Cruel Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (ratified 2015)

On September 13, 2007, the General Assembly adopted the UN DRIP – United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. As a member state, Vietnam signed to adopt this crucial and historical declaration.

Vietnam has been a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council for the 2020-2021 tenure. Vietnam has announced its bid to join the UN Human Rights Council for the 2023-2025 term.

While Vietnam is polishing its regime at the UN, the record of the human rights violations against the Khmer-Krom is seriously concerning.

As an organization advocating for the fundamental rights for the voiceless Khmer-Krom in the Mekong Delta (Kampuchea-Krom), the Khmers Kampuchea-Krom Federation (KKF) publicly demands the Vietnamese government uphold its commitment to implement the treaties and declaration that Vietnam signed:

1. As the peoples, the Khmer-Krom must have the right to self-determinationas enshrined in Article 1 of the CCPR and CESCR: “All peoples have the right of self-determination. By virtue of that right they freely determine their political status and freely pursue their economic, social and cultural development.“

2. As the indigenous peoples of the Mekong Delta, the Khmer-Krom must have the right to self-identificationas enshrined in Article 33 of the UN DRIP: “ Indigenous peoples have the right to determine their own identity or membership in accordance with their customs and traditions. This does not impair the right of indigenous individuals to obtain citizenship of the States in which they live; 2. Indigenous peoples have the right to determine the structures and to select the membership of their institutions in accordance with their own procedures“.

• The Khmer-Krom must have the right to be self-identified on the legal document as “Khmer-Krom,” not “Khmer Nam Bo” nor just abbreviated as “Khmer.” The Khmer-Krom’s mother tongue language is Khmer which should be used in a bilingual program for the Khmer-Krom students to study in public schools.
• The Khmer-Krom must have the right to call their villages, districts, provinces in the Khmer names.
• The Khmer-Krom must have the right to have an independent Theravada Buddhism organization, not under the control of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha.
• The Khmer-Krom must have the right to have independent institutions, such as Human Rights institutions, and organizations, such as Labor Union, to protect and promote their fundamental rights.
• The Khmer-Krom must have the right to have the opportunity to continue their higher education and have equal rights to find jobs without needing connections with government officers.
• The Khmer-Krom must have the right to be included in the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development to avoid being left behind.